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Koup 22nd Lovember 1912.
13. Wong Kong
REGP 2 JAN 13.
his excellency Sir, John Jordan, K.0.B. G.0.4.0.
X. b. k's Envoy Extraordinary and Vinister Flenipotentiary,
sir.
Poking,
We have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 3rd November and to confirm our telegram of the 11th inst. reading, "Opium dealers report have received varning from Kangtung Government that smoking must cease Ust December position becoming critical earnest - ly beg your xcellency press Chinese Government withdraw proclamation",
We note with extreme regret that you have never seen your way, consistently with the terms of the Opium Agreement of 1911, to protest ageinst proposals to impose penalties on the smoking of opium as distinc
from the trade in opium.
516 The matter is of much great importance to the
British firus both here and at other ports in China who deel in opium that we must crave your indulgence and beg leave to be allowed to place
We would respectfully our views on the 1911 agreement before you.
submit that it would be quite in accordance with the true mesnin
and intent of the plum Agreement of 1911 for your excellency to pro- test against any proposale to impose penalties on the smoking of opium,
liis Lajesty's Government concluded an arrangement with the Chinese Government in the year 1907, whereby his sajesty's Government uncertook that if during the period of three years from January 1st 1908 the Chi- nese Covernment carried out the arrangement on their part for reducing the production and consumption of opium in China they would continue in